Crackdown on drivers as death toll hits 52

FIFTY-ONE people have died on Irish roads since January 1, prompting Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to warn last night of an unprecedented garda crackdown on motorists.

Mr Ahern insisted all drivers would face far more checkpoints and speed cameras in the near future.

“We’re putting a large number of gardaí on the roads, they’re going to set up checkpoints, it is going to be fairly difficult for ordinary law-abiding people on the roads.